Floodplain restoration monitoring of the aquatic vegetation and fish communities of The Nature Conservancy's Emiquon Preserve 2019

Since 2007, The Emiquon Preserve (Emiquon) has been monitored using Key Ecological Attributes (KEA) to determine the success of restoration on the vegetation and fish communities. The KEA’s were developed to reflect a high-functioning, balanced ecosystem at its upper limts. Native submersed aquatic vegetation (SAV) abundance and richness continue to be the dominant macrophyte communities. Submersed aquatic vegetation species diversity has remained stable though the years with native species dominating the biomass. The Emiquon Preserve’s fish community continues to be dominated by native fish species. In 2019, yellow and white bass catch rates increased, and we also saw the return of bryozoan colonies, although still fewer than previous years. During 2019, an extended drawdown was not conducted due to multiple high-water events that make gravity-feeding and pumping impossible. Pumping occurred from June 15th to July 8th, 2019 for a total of 290.75 hours. Pumping was terminated on July 24th, 2019 due to equipment issues, pumps where removed for maintenance until December 3rd. From December 4th to December 19th pumps were ran for a total of 709.47 hours. Gravity flow was only possible from September 3rd to September 12th between high water events.